John Brown men, women top Central Christian

JOHN BROWN UNIVERSITY 73, CENTRAL CHRISTIAN 37

SILOAM SPRINGS — John Brown got the second half of its season off to a good start. The No. 21 Golden Eagles raced out to a big first-half lead and cruised to a 73-37 Sooner Athletic Conference victory over Central Christian (Kan.) on Thursday night at Bill George Arena. JBU surged out to an 18-3 lead in the first half and the rout was on for the Golden Eagles, who shot 27 of 55 (49.1 percent) from the field. The Golden Eagles only hit 6 of 25 from behind the three-point line, but they were 21 of 30 (70 percent) inside the line and 13 of 15 from the free-throw line. Josh Bowling led JBU with 18 points, while Desmond Kennedy had 13 off the bench. Rokas Grabliauskas added 11 and Jake Caudle 10 for the Golden Eagles. Defensively, JBU held Central Christian to just 3 of 23 (13 percent) shooting from the field in the first half and 10 of 49 (20.4 percent) total. Jubril Osagie led the Tigers (7-5, 1-4) with 12 points. Central Christian... 14 37 23 — John Brown.........33 73 40 — Central Christian (7-5, 1-4): Osagie 12, Rivera 7, Williams 6, Epps 4, Kuminga 2, Diatta 2, Ard 1, Staten 1, Berg 1, King 1. John Brown (11-3, 5-1): Bowling 18, Kennedy 13, Grabliauskas 11, Caudle 10, Carnes 7, Toussaint 4, Perrier 4, Corder 2, Harper 2, Bailey 2.

WOMEN JOHN BROWN 83, CENTRAL CHRISTIAN 60

John Brown snapped out of its first-half shooting slump by hitting its first six 3-pointers of the second half and pulled away for the conference win. JBU hit only 10 of 34 shots in the first half, including 5 of 19 from behind the threepoint line, and trailed 31-26 at halftime. The Golden Eagles (8-5, 4-2 SAC) regained control with their hot start to the second half. Senior guard Karina Chandra, who missed all seven of her shots from the field in the first half, hit 7 of 13 in the second half, including four 3-pointers, to lead JBU with 19 points. Taylor Fergen had 12 on four 3-pointers for the Golden Eagles, while Jordan Martin scored 11. JBU outrebounded Central Christian (1-11, 0-5) 59-28. JBU returns to action Saturday at Langston (Okla.).